Feeding Your Ants & Ant Nutrition - AntsCanada Tutorial #11 [HD]

Summary

In this tutorial, Mikey Bustos from Ants Canada discusses the crucial aspects of ant nutrition and feeding. He emphasizes the need for ants to have access to water, sugary foods, and protein. He also highlights the importance of an 'outworld' for ants, which mimics their natural environment and helps maintain a clean nest. The video provides tips on feeding ants, including the types of food they need and how to ensure a balanced diet.

Takeaways

• 🐜 Ant nutrition is crucial for the success of an ant colony, and poor nutrition can lead to colony decline or failure.
• 🥣 Ants require three main elements for proper nutrition: a protein source, a sugary food source, and water.
• 📦 Young colonies may benefit from food placed close to the founding chamber, but it's better to feed them in a tube or an outworld for cleanliness and natural behavior.
• 🌳 An outworld mimics the natural environment outside the nest, allowing ants to forage and maintain a clean nest by disposing of waste and dead bodies there.
• 🍗 Protein is essential for the development of ant larvae and is typically obtained by adult ants who bring solid food back to the nest for larvae to consume.
• 🚫 Feeding ants exclusively protein can be harmful and even fatal due to protein toxicity, especially in colonies without larvae.
• 🍬 Sugary foods are vital for adult ants to generate energy, as they are constantly active and do not grow like larvae.
• 🍇 Examples of sugary foods include fruits, honey, sugar water, seeds, and plant exudates like nectar.
• 💧 Water is essential for all biological processes, and ants need a constant, clean source of water, which can be provided in a test tube or through a moist environment.
• 🍽️ Allowing ants to choose their food ratio between protein and sugary sources by providing both ensures a balanced diet.
• 👀 Observing ants gather and transfer food is an exciting aspect of ant keeping, showcasing behaviors like trophallaxis and waste management.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the tutorial provided by Mikey Bustos from Ants Canada?

The main focus of the tutorial is ant nutrition and feeding, emphasizing the importance of providing ants with proper nutrition for the success of their colonies.

What are the three essential elements required for proper ant nutrition?

The three essential elements for proper ant nutrition are a protein food source, a sugary food source, and water.

Why is it important to provide ants with a protein source?

Protein sources are essential for the proper development of ant larvae and for adult ants to break down into a nutritious soup for both larvae and workers to consume.

What are some examples of protein sources that can be provided to ants?

Examples of protein sources include insects, meats, moist cat or dog food, and seeds for granivorous ants.

Why is it crucial for ants to have a sugary food source?

Sugary foods are important for providing energy (ATP) to adult ants, which are constantly moving and working.

What are some examples of sugary foods that can be provided to ants?

Examples of sugary foods include fruits, honey, sugar water, seeds, cake crumbs, and nectar from blossoms and other plant exudates.

What is the potential risk of feeding ants a diet exclusively composed of protein sources?

A diet exclusively composed of protein sources can lead to mortality of the workers due to protein toxicity, especially in colonies without larvae.

What is an 'outworld' and why is it beneficial for ant colonies?

An outworld is an area that resembles the world outside of the nest, providing a natural environment for ants to forage for food. It helps keep the nest clean and free of garbage, reducing the risk of mold, fungi, bacteria, and disease.

How should ants be provided with water in their outworld?

Ants can be provided with water in their outworld using a water-filled test tube blocked with a cotton ball or by misting the outworld decorations with a hand spray.

What is trophallaxis and how does it relate to ant feeding?

Trophallaxis is the process of ants transferring food from mouth to mouth. It is an important behavior that helps distribute food among ants, including the queen.

How often should the outworld be cleaned and replenished with food items for ants?

The outworld should be cleaned and replenished with food items on a bi-weekly basis to ensure a constant supply of nutrients for the colony.

Outlines

00:00

🐜 Ant Nutrition and Feeding Basics

This paragraph introduces the importance of proper nutrition for ant colonies, emphasizing the three essential elements: protein, sugary foods, and water. The speaker, Mikey Bustos from Ants Canada, shares his journey in understanding ant care and the necessity of meeting the nutritional needs of ants to ensure a thriving colony. The tutorial aims to guide viewers on how to provide these elements effectively, starting with the best practices for feeding young colonies and the advantages of using an 'outworld' to mimic the natural foraging behavior of ants in the wild. The paragraph also touches on the importance of cleanliness in ant colonies and how an outworld helps maintain a hygienic environment by serving as a dumping site for waste and dead bodies.

05:06

🥗 Balancing Ant Diet with Protein and Sugary Foods

The second paragraph delves deeper into the specifics of ant nutrition, focusing on the role of protein and sugary foods in an ant's diet. Protein is crucial for the development of larvae, and adult ants rely on it for energy, with larvae breaking down solid food into a nutritious soup for the colony. The paragraph warns against feeding ants exclusively protein, as it can lead to protein toxicity and higher mortality rates, especially in colonies without larvae. Sugary foods are highlighted as a vital energy source for adult ants, with examples provided such as fruits, honey, and sugar water. The importance of allowing ants to self-regulate their diet by providing both protein and sugary sources is stressed. The paragraph also discusses the practical aspects of maintaining an outworld, including regular cleaning and the provision of a variety of food items to cater to the ants' preferences. Water is identified as the third essential element, with suggestions on how to provide a clean water source for the ants. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the rewarding experience of observing ants gather nutrients and the satisfaction derived from successfully culturing a growing colony.

Keywords

💡Ant Nutrition

Ant nutrition refers to the dietary requirements necessary for the health and growth of an ant colony. It is central to the video's theme, as it discusses the importance of providing a balanced diet to ants. The script mentions that proper nutrition consists of three elements: a protein food source, a sugary food source, and water, which are vital for the success of an ant colony.

💡Formicarium

A formicarium is an artificial nest or enclosure designed for keeping ants. It is mentioned in the script as the place where ants are housed and fed, especially for young colonies. The formicarium is important for simulating the ants' natural environment and facilitating their feeding and cleaning habits.

💡Outworld

The term 'outworld' is used to describe an area outside the ant nest that resembles the natural foraging environment. It is a key concept in the script, as it discusses how an outworld can make the ants' living space more natural and help keep the nest clean by providing a place for the ants to dump waste and dead bodies.

💡Protein Source

A protein source is essential for ant colonies, particularly for the development of larvae. The script explains that adult ants often bring solid food like insect body parts back to the nest for larvae to consume. Examples of protein sources given in the script include insects, meats, and seeds, emphasizing their importance for a growing colony.

💡Sugary Foods

Sugary foods are crucial for providing energy to adult ants, which, unlike larvae, are not growing but are constantly active. The script mentions that sugary foods are important for ATP production, which is the energy currency of the cell. Examples include fruits, honey, and sugar water, and the script advises keeping a constant supply in the outworld.

💡Water

Water is described as the universal solvent and is vital for biological processes in the script. It is one of the three essential elements for ant nutrition. The video suggests using a test tube with a cotton block for water provision in the outworld, ensuring that ants have a clean source of water at all times.

💡Malnutrition

Malnutrition in the context of the script refers to the negative consequences of not providing the three essential elements to an ant colony. It is mentioned as a cause of colony decline or failure to grow, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet for the health of the ants.

💡Trophallaxis

Trophallaxis is the process of food transfer from mouth to mouth among ants, which is depicted in the script as an exciting aspect of ant behavior. It is a social activity that allows ants to share food and nutrients, contributing to the overall health and functioning of the colony.

💡Gut Loading

Gut loading refers to the practice of feeding prey items, like crickets, with nutritious food before they are given to the ants. The script mentions the importance of gut loading crickets to ensure they are healthy and provide the ants with a good source of nutrition when consumed.

💡Mold Outbreaks

Mold outbreaks are mentioned in the script as a potential hazard for ant colonies, especially in moist environments. The use of an outworld helps to mitigate this risk by providing a separate area for waste disposal, keeping the nest clean and reducing the chances of disease.

💡Variety of Food Items

Offering a variety of food items is suggested in the script as the best approach to feeding ants, allowing them to choose what they need and in what amounts. This practice helps in understanding the ants' preferences and contributes to the successful culturing of a growing colony.

Highlights

Introduction by Mikey Bustos from Ants Canada, emphasizing the tutorial on ant nutrition and feeding.

The importance of getting the right formula for ant care and the relatively new nature of the ant-keeping hobby.

Fundamental nutritional needs for ants: water, sugary foods, and protein.

The vital role of proper nutrition in the success of an ant colony and the consequences of malnutrition.

Suggestion to place food close to the founding chamber for young colonies.

Advantages of feeding ants in a tube or using an outworld for a more natural environment.

The concept of an outworld as an extension of the colony's living space, mimicking natural foraging behavior.

The cleanliness of ants and their practice of carrying garbage and dead bodies to the outworld.

The necessity of protein for ant colonies, especially for larval development.

The process by which ants consume and share protein-rich food with larvae.

Examples of protein sources for ants, including insects, meats, and seeds.

The importance of gut-loading crickets to ensure they are nutritious prey for ants.

The risks of feeding ants an exclusively protein-based diet leading to protein toxicity.

The significance of sugary foods for providing energy to adult ants.

Examples of sugary food sources and their importance in an ant's diet.

The recommendation to let ants determine the ratio of protein to sugary food in their diet.

The practice of bi-weekly cleaning and replenishing the outworld with a variety of food items.

The necessity of water for ants and methods to provide a clean water source.

Observing ants' behavior in gathering food and the process of trophallaxis.

The rewarding experience of watching ants and learning their food preferences over time.

Conclusion by Ants Canada, emphasizing the fulfillment of successfully culturing a growing ant colony.

Transcripts

[Music]

Hello, what's up?

It's, uh, Mikey Bustos here, Ants Canada once again bringing you another tutorial on behalf of the Ants Canada ant store

you know in the past, it's been a long way for me

in terms of

getting the

You know, I guess, the formula right

in caring for ants learning about

you know just really how to

properly care for ants and you know the ant keeping hobby itself is a

fairly new

kind of thing and we're all really learning from eachother at this point because

Like I said, it's it's a fairly new activity

And craze. One of the things I wanted to share with you guys today

Which is so important to know in regards to keeping ants is: ant nutrition and feeding.

You essentially need to provide ants three things

And that's water sugary foods and protein and this next video will take you through

Exactly that so hope you enjoy it and here it is

By far one of the most important areas of ant keeping is nutrition and feeding

Providing your ends with proper nutrition is so vital to the success of your ant colony

The failure to grow or the decline of a captive ant colony is quite often a result of poor nutrition

So we wanted to create a tutorial on how to properly feed your ants

essentially providing your ants nutrition consists of three elements

a protein food source

a sugary food source and water

Failure to provide any three of these essentials will lead to malnutrition and eventually the death of an ant colony

Before we begin exploring these three elements

We should first address the best way in which to provide your ends with the food and water they need

For really young colonies of just a few workers some find it easier to provide food as close to the founding chamber as possible

And so they choose to place food directly into the formicarium as seen in this photo of

Lasius neoniger nantics eating a piece of cricket

remember that if you choose this method

place the food in a location where it will be easy to reach and clean up later

A better option would be to feed the ants in a tube

however the best option is to provide your ants with what is called an outworld

An outworld is like your colonies

Well, outer world

an area that will resemble the world outside of the nest

In the wild worker ants wander out of their nest and forage for food to bring back to the colony in

In captivity, matching this nest and outworld duality in their living space makes things more natural for the ants

Having an outworld also makes things a lot cleaner for everyone

As you can imagine, living in a moist environment underground in close proximity to each other

The Colony is constantly in danger of mold outbreaks other fungi, bacteria, and disease

so ants are actually very, very clean when it comes to organic material lying around

After eating what they need

Ants will literally carry their garbage out of the nest and dump it in their outworld for you to clean up afterwards

Having an outworld there for the ants to establish a dump site helps keep the nest clean and free of garbage

They will even dump dead bodies in the outworld

Okay, so let's begin with a protein source

Protein foods are essential for an ant colony. Particularly for the proper development of the Larvae

Adult workers of most ant species lack the chewing parts required to chew up very solid food

So many species of ants drag such food like the body parts of prey insects back to the nest

For the larvae which do have the chewing parts to consume and break down into a nutritious soup

that the workers can then consume

It's an efficient system that ensures that both adult ants and Larvae are fed protein accordingly

Proteins which consist of chains of Amino acids are the building blocks of life

and growing Larvae especially require these protein rich foods in order to grow

Colonies with lots of brood really rely on you to provide them protein sources

Examples of protein sources include insects, meats, moist cat or dog food, and, in the case of granivores, seeds

When the workers discover the food in the outworld

They will consume what they can of

the semi-solid food and then drag the rest back to the nest for further breakdown and for the larvae to work on

If you're feeding crickets to your ends remember that your ants are what its food eats

Therefore it is important that the crickets are gut loaded and healthy when fed to your ants

A simple container with dog food, veggies, grains, or other high nutrient cricket chow along with a cotton block test tube of water

should be good to keep your crickets nutritious as prey items

However, although protein is indeed important to a growing colony's diet

A diet exclusively composed of only protein sources can be fatal

A study in an australian lab found that ant colonies that were fed only protein foods

Led to mortality of the Workers due to protein toxicity

Furthermore they discovered that the mortality rate of the workers in

Colonies that had no larvae were much higher than that of workers in colonies that had larvae to make use of all that protein

This brings us then to the second essential to ant nutrition:

sugary foods

Sugary Foods are important for ATP, that is to say... energy.

It is important for adult ants.

Adult ants aren't really growing in the same way that larvae do, but are constantly moving and working

That is why sugary foods, which give the ants energy, are important for adult ants

Examples of sugary foods include fruits, honey, sugar water, seeds, cake crumbs

And if you can get your ants to feed from them nectar from blossoms and other plant exudates

In the wild some ants even tend aphids to drink their sugary secretions called honeydew

Whatever you provide your ants is a sugary food source, it is important that they constantly

have a sugary food source in their outworld to give the colony energy

So you ask, how much of protein and how much of sugary food should you be giving?

Well, we say, let the ants figure that out.

If you constantly provide the ants with both a protein source and a sugary source

They will naturally decide the ratio on their own

In this outworld belonging to a large tetramorium colony

a bunch of food materials are dumped into the out world on a bi-weekly basis

pieces of fruit, cut up insects, seeds, tiny pieces of meat

And the ants go out like in a buffet and choose exactly what they want to bring back to the colony and in what amounts

Every other week this out world is cleaned using tweezers

and more food items are placed into the out world for the ants to choose from

As your colony gets larger, a larger outworld is always better

The third essential is water, the universal solvent

Water is vital for almost all biological processes and living things

For larger colonies water placed in a test tube is always a good idea

Spring outworld decorations with a hand spray also provides your ants with a source to drink

ants need a clean source of water at all times and if your formicarium doesn't provide that

a water filled test Tube blocked with a cotton ball placed into your outworld

will give your ants water when they need it

Watching your ants gather food and nutrients for the colony is one of the most exciting things about owning ants

You may notice the ants transferring food from mouth to mouth a process called trophallaxis

If you see here in this picture You'll see the drop. That's transferring between worker and queen

You will watch as your ants drag pieces of food back to the nest for consumption and then dragging their leftovers into your outworld

It's a lot of fun

Offering your ants variety of food items is your best bet and in time you will learn what kinds of food they like the most

When you know how to properly feed your ants

Culturing a successfully growing colony becomes easy and very fulfilling.

This is Ants Canada signing out

[Music]